Dallas, TX — April 21, 2025, one person was injured in a truck accident at about 4:45 a.m. on southbound Interstate 35E south of downtown.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a 2013 Volvo semi-truck overturned near South Riverfront Boulevard after hitting a guardrail and an exit sign.

The driver, a 27-year-old man whose name has not been made public yet, was seriously injured in this crash, according to the report.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Dallas County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear about a semi-truck overturning on a major highway, especially in the middle of the night, the first question they often ask is, “How does something like that even happen?” The short answer is: we don’t know yet. And that’s a serious problem if anyone wants to get to the bottom of this.

According to initial reports, the truck hit a guardrail and an exit sign before overturning. But the real question is what led to that series of events in the first place. Was the driver speeding? Did he fall asleep at the wheel? Was there a mechanical failure? Did something in the cargo area shift unexpectedly? Without solid evidence, it’s all guesswork, and guesswork doesn’t get accountability.

If I were investigating this crash, I’d start by asking what the truck’s onboard systems can tell us. Many modern 18-wheelers are equipped with engine control modules, the vehicle’s “black box," which can provide crucial data like speed, braking patterns, steering input and throttle use. That data helps us reconstruct the moments leading up to the crash.

Then there’s the question of distraction. Was the driver using his phone? Only a subpoena for phone records can answer that. Did the truck have an inward-facing camera? If so, that footage could reveal whether the driver was nodding off, texting or reacting to something in the cab before the truck left the road.

Another angle to explore is whether the company had any business putting this driver behind the wheel in the first place. Did he have a history of violations? Was his training adequate? Did the company actually evaluate his driving ability before sending him out on the road, or just check a box and hand him the keys?

I worked a case once where a driver had been fired from several jobs before being hired by the company we sued. Their idea of a “driver evaluation” was a 20-minute drive in perfect conditions. Turns out, the driver wasn’t prepared to handle anything more complicated than a parking lot. That employer didn’t just miss the warning signs; they ignored them. That’s the kind of behind-the-scenes failure that doesn’t show up in a police report but makes all the difference in court.

At the end of the day, crashes like this don’t come down to bad luck. They come down to evidence. And if the authorities don’t collect it, someone else will have to.

Key Takeaways:

• The cause of the truck’s overturn remains unknown; key questions about driver behavior and mechanical function are still unanswered.
• Black box data, cell phone records and in-cab camera footage could provide vital insights into what led to the crash.
• An independent investigation should examine the trucking company’s hiring and training practices.
• Real accountability depends on collecting all available evidence, not assumptions or speculation.
• Understanding how this happened is critical for identifying who, if anyone, should be held responsible.